Uncontrolled chronic or severe pain can take the joy from your life—making it difficult to sleep, work or do activities that you love. Whether you have chronic back pain or pain related to a health condition such as diabetes or arthritis, MaineHealth Pain Care North Conway can help you effectively manage pain without the use of narcotics.
Expert care for chronic and severe pain
We believe in trying low intervention pain management methods first. These may include: applying ice/heat, physical or occupational therapy, or careful use of over-the-counter medications. If these methods do not provide relief, your doctor may recommend a more advanced treatment option called interventional pain management.
What is interventional pain management?
Interventional pain management is a proven approach to treating chronic or severe pain. Our care team specializes in minimally-invasive procedures that can help stop the transmission of pain signals between your nervous system and your brain. In these procedures, medication is injected directly into the affected area. Your doctor may recommend:
- Epidural steroid injections
- Pain blocking injections
- Anti-inflammatory injections
Convenient, outpatient service in a hospital setting
Unlike other area providers, our interventional pain management procedures take place in a state-of-the art, hospital operating room. Board-certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) use advanced technology such as ultrasound, fluoroscopy and C-arms to guide pain injections to just the right place. This is especially important during spinal procedures.
Our interventional pain management services include:
- Epidural Steroid Injections (both interlaminar and transforaminal)
- Facet Joint, Sacroiliac Joint, and Selective Nerve Root: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Neurotomies
- Intraarticular joint injections with Regenerative "Biologics"
- Intramuscular and Trigger Point Injections, using either anti-inflammatories and/or Botox
- Epidural Steroid Injections (a minimally-invasive procedure that is used to treat neck, shoulder, arm, back, and leg pain resulting from inflammation of spinal nerve roots)
- Medial Branch Blocks/Facet Joint Injections (to both diagnose and treat pain emanating from the small joints of the spine, performed under live X-ray guidance)
- Major Joint (Shoulder, Hip, and Knee) Injections (used to treat pain stemming from a variety of causes, including osteoarthritis)
Non-narcotic Treatment Options
Next Steps for Patients
Check with your doctor to see if interventional pain management is right for you. Usually, a referral from your primary care physician or other health care provider is required. Our services are covered by most insurers.
